Motorcycle Pre-Ride Checklist
Bob LaRosaDescription
Here is a motorcycle pre-ride checklist brought to you by Bob LaRosa. He explains how to make sure you are ready for your next ride. A short ride to the local hang out or a trip of a lifetime to a far away rally warrant the same amount of preparation and care. We want to get out on the road and to return safe. Since you have been maintaining your motorcycle you know more about it than anyone else. You know what has been done to your motorcycle and what is on the list of things to be done. It’s the little things like tire pressure that are easy to check and crucial to motorcycle performance and your safety. In this video, Bob will review that we should check:
All fluid levels
Battery voltage
Brakes, pads and operation
Filters
Clothing
Operation of essential parts
Tire Pressure
Handlebars
Lighting
Windshield
Foot-pegs
Comfort
All Electrical
Let's take a moment and discuss pre ride checklist. This not only includes maintenance, but it also includes what you should bri, bringing you with you for a ride. Naturally this is your motorcycle. It's your responsibility to make sure it gets you out on the ride and also get you home safely. It's your responsibility to make sure fluid levels, not only oil, transmission, primary, but also brake fluids, and any other fluids involved in the operation of the motorcycle are kept fresh and full. Make sure your battery has adequate voltage. Whether you use a battery maintainer or you take your battery out and store it in a warm area on a trickle charger, make sure your batteries up to snuff before you go on a ride. Nothing worse than gathering a group on a Sunday morning to go for a ride. And you're the only one whose motorcycle won't start. Make sure you check all your breaks for proper function. And besides having a nice firm pedal or lever feel occasionally take the time to check pad thickness. It's not as difficult as it would seem. Look in there with a flashlight, make sure the pad thickness is even inside and outside pad, both front and rear always make sure your filters are fresh. Air filter, oil filter. Don't let them run till they're filthy. The old adage run it till it's broke. Wait till it breaks to fix just doesn't apply anymore. If you're gonna be traveling with a passenger, make sure you bring adequate clothing. It may be warm when you leave in the morning, but it will cool off as the sun goes down or the weather changes throughout the day. You don't want to have to head back from a nice ride just because your passenger gets Chilly. Always take the time. Make sure everything operates correctly. Whether it's something as simple as a floorboard or something is complex and complicated as a spoked wheel or tire pressures, tire pressures are very important in order to get the life out of the tire that you expect. You wanna make sure all the fasteners, handlebars, mirrors, handlebars controls, all your lighting. Make sure your windshield is clean. Make sure any foot pegs that you're gonna use operate properly. You don't want them coming loose, possibly falling off, hitting another rider behind you when you're out riding in a pack. Another thing, make sure your seat is secure. Make sure your seat is comfortable. Make sure it's not only comfortable for you as a rider, but also for your passenger. Again, nothing worse halfway through a nice ride. Your passenger squirming around so much. She's causing you to going on the road, shaken other people get nervous about it. They have a tendency to put you all the way at the back of their pack, just 'cause you're a nuisance. Make sure you do a full electrical check just because your motorcycle, the ignition comes on and it starts. Don't take for granted all the electrics are working correctly. Take a moment. Check high beam, low beam check turn signals left and right, check running lights, front and rear. If it's wired for running lights in the rear check proper brake light operation, very, very important handle lever and brake pedal. You don't know in a panic stop. If you'll be using one or both of them, they both need to aluminate the brake light. No matter what, again it's your motorcycle. It's your responsibility to maintain it or pay to get it maintained. Make sure when you go out riding, you're riding safe. You're riding comfortably, check everything, check it constantly. Make it a habit before you ride, check your ride.
Wish it was more indepth. Like where are the fluid level checks and what level should they be at?
One VERY important thing you left out of your pre-ride checklist is the KICKSTAND. 1 month ago I had an accident when the kickstand spring unhooked on one end while I was riding, I leaned into a left hand turn, the kickstand dropped down, dug into the road and threw me off the back. I never checked the kickstand in my 40 years of riding, but I won't get on a bike anymore without checking it. Luckily I wasn't going that fast and wasn't hurt too badly. This was on a bike I bought the day before. This is a part that I, and I'm sure, many other people just take for granted!
Very good advuce and worthy to sit down watch and listen. If everybody would heed to it there less accidents.
Great information. The MSF Course recommends TCLOCKS for the pre-ride inspection. Every time I start my bike, I use the TCLOCKS and the ride always goes without a hitch. Once again, thanks for the information.
Good sound advise, the best part is these pre-ride checks take only a few minutes.
Wish this video was mandatory for every rider to view.Can't remember how many times I have seen a bike with no working brake light.
This is very good advice, Just took a Motorcycle safety course and checking your motorcycle out before you ride is one of the most important things you can do , to ride safetly and for the fun of the ride.